Men's Basketball 11/7/2024 12:40:00 PM Alan Babbitt

2024-25 Men's Basketball Season Preview

The nationally-ranked Hope College men's basketball team faces another challenging schedule with talent and confidence.

The Flying Dutchmen return three starters from a group that won the MIAA Tournament title for the third consecutive season and were among three MIAA teams who advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Hope handed eventual national champion Trine University its last loss, winning 72-68 in overtime in the MIAA Tournament final one day after topping eventual national quarterfinalist Calvin University, 83-68, in the semifinals at Trine.

This year's schedule features four teams in the D3hoops Preseason Top 25: No. 1 Trine, No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Platteville, No. 9 Calvin and No. 12 Saint John's University (Minnesota).

The Flying Dutchmen were ranked No. 21 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll and third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll behind first-place Trine and second-place Calvin.

Head coach Greg Mitchell said his team is ready for the opportunity.

"We schedule up on purpose," Mitchell said. "That certainly tests you and forces you to grow. You hope by the end of the season you've gained so much. Your weaknesses have been exposed. If you're going to meet the challenge, you have to look inward and to the guy to the left and right of you. We had that last year big time.

"This year is a tough schedule, but I think we have a lot of great pieces to the puzzle."

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Greg Mitchell, 11th season (183-84)
Assistant coaches: Ken George, Ryan Klingler, Tom Davelaar, Craig Kopas, Ty George

2024-25 Roster

The Flying Dutchmen's roster features five seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen.

Mitchell likes how his team has been integrating.

"When your team culture is strong, the new guys can follow the leadership of the veteran guys," Mitchell said. That's what's been going on."

Senior center and two-time All-MIAA Second Team selection Gabe Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) is Hope's top returner.

The 6-9, 225-pound Quillan has averaged 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds on 55.5% field-goal shooting over 70 career games, including the past 57 as a starter. Quillan, Hope's second-leading scorer last season, needs 194 more points to reach 1,000 for his career.

The Flying Dutchmen return two other starters: junior guard Marcus Wourman (East Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) and sophomore forward Parker Hovey (Shelby, Michigan / Hart).

The 5-11 Wourman contributed 8.4 assists and 3.3 assists per game. Wourman started 28 games and finished second on the team in assists.

The 6-5 Hovey averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one steal per game while playing in all 30 games and starting 25.

Senior guard Josh Decker (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Woodridge) and senior forward Ben Wagar (Harbor Springs, Michigan / Petoskey) both averaged more than 10 minutes per game off the bench last season. The 6-3 Decker and 6-7 Wager each are 3-point threats.

Senior guard Sam Carlson (Superior, Colorado / Monarch) returns after missing the final 16 games last season due to injury.

Junior guard Justice Mims (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Rochester Adams) chipped in 7.4 points per game off the bench in 27 games last season.

Other juniors aiming to contribute are 6-4 guard Ethan Crabtree (Coldwater, Michigan / Coldwater), 6-0 guard Deven Marathe (Cincinnati, Ohio / Turpin), 6-6 forward Neal Ihme (Maple City, Michigan / Glen Lake), and 6-4 guard Carson Sanders (Clark Lake, Michigan / Hanover Horton).

Two more sophomores who could help are 6-4 forward Brett Bultsma (Dorr, Michigan / Wayland) and 6-5 forward Simon Neuhaus (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids).

Seven freshmen are on the varsity roster: 6-3 guard Brady Miller (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central), 6-6 forward Carter Goodyke (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian), 6-6 forward Charles Howell (Cadillac, Michigan / Cadillac), 6-6 forward Orion Yant (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West), 6-3 guard Carter Bishop (Holt, Michigan / Holt), 6-1 guard Jared Ryg (Arlington Hills, Illinois / John Hersey), and 6-7 forward Kyle Blaugh (Boulder, Colorado / Boulder).

2024-25 Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen tip off the season on Friday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. against Anderson University (Indiana) at DeVos Fieldhouse. It is a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament opener that Hope won, 95-79, in Cleveland, Ohio. Anderson is coached by Carter Collins '17, a former student assistant coach with the Flying Dutchmen.

After Anderson, Hope will play the next seven games away from home, traveling to Calvin and in the states of Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin.

On Friday-Saturday, Nov. 22-23, the Flying Dutchmen will face Saint John's and Marietta College (Ohio) at the Great Lakes Invitational hosted by Calvin.

Hope will play Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse.

The Flying Dutchmen will host in the inaugural Glenn Van Wieren Classic, honoring their all-time winningest coach, on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 20-21, which includes games against DePauw University (Indiana) and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Indiana).

Hope will ring in the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at home with the MIAA opener against The University of Olivet.

The league schedule will see the Flying Dutchmen renew The Rivalry with Calvin on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse and on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. at Calvin.

Hope will host Trine on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. vs. Albion College.

If qualifying, the Flying Dutchmen will play in the MIAA Tournament that runs from Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 26-March 1.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Ethan Crabtree: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#22 Justice Mims: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#33 Gabe Quillan: C; 6' 9"; Junior; Business

Carson Sanders: 6' 4"; Sophomore

#44 Ben Wagar: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#2 Marcus Wourman: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Sam Carlson: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#11 Josh Decker: G; 6' 3"; Junior; Communication

#24 Parker Hovey: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

#32 Simon Neuhaus: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Ethan Crabtree
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#22 Justice Mims
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#33 Gabe Quillan
: 6' 9"; Junior; Business
: C

Carson Sanders
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

#44 Ben Wagar
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#2 Marcus Wourman
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#4 Sam Carlson
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#11 Josh Decker
: 6' 3"; Junior; Communication
: G

#24 Parker Hovey
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F

#32 Simon Neuhaus
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F